National Budget for 2.27.08

Tuesday

Feb 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMFeb 26, 2008 at 3:59 PM

GateHouse News Service National Budget

For 2/27/08 editions

Here are the top national stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/. Please submit stories below no later than 6 pm local time, unless you have breaking news that is changing significantly.

LEAP YEAR: Are you planning any special and/or quirky stories for Feb. 29 that would work nationwide? Please let us know by e-mailing Jean or Michael: jhodges@gatehousemedia.com, mtoeset@gatehousemedia.com.

LEAP YEAR BABIES: What it's like to be a leap year baby - One out of 1,461. That's the chances of being born on Feb. 29 - Leap Year Day - according to young adult author Wendy Mass. A few years ago, Mass wrote a book chronicling the trials and tribulations of a girl turning 16 on Leap Year Day. MetroWest, McDonald, 18 inches, on wire now
With photo

Lifestyles (Wednesday is Food)

FOOD PAGE: Get creative with fruits and veggies.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: This week features Batter Blaster, an easy and delicious macaroni soup and more.

KATHRYN REM: Get fired up for 'Top Chef'. Springfield

SOUP’S ON: Make this soup one of your old reliables. Rockford

FOOD VIDEO: This week, warm up winter nights with beef and potato stroganoff.

PETE CHIANCA: My home has gone to the dogs - As of this writing, I have six dogs and three cats living in my home. Some of them are ours, some of them are guests, and all of them are, at this very moment, running wildly through the house like spooked buffalo. I think they may have gotten it into their heads that somewhere, far off in the distance, a squirrel is mocking them.
CNC, on wire now

JOE BURNS: Keeping to the fair way - “No girls allowed.” That’s the kind of sign that you’d expect a bunch of 9-year old boys to have hanging from their backyard tree house, but it’s not a sentiment you’d expect to find at a town-owned and operated golf course. CNC, on wire now

EDITORIAL: Conservative identity crisis - Who would have predicted, even as recently as a year ago, that by the last year of George W. Bush's presidency, conservatives would be caught up in an identity crisis? The success of Sen. John McCain, and the continuing resistance he faces as he closes in on the Republican presidential nomination, reflect this crisis. For months - years, actually - McCain has been denounced for bucking Republican orthodoxy. MetroWest, on wire now
With Granlund cartoon

Sports

MIKE NADEL: TUCSON, Ariz. - Speak up, Jim Thome. You too, Jermaine Dye. You're shy, Mark Buehrle, but that only will make your words more meaningful. OzzieBall wasn't about bunting and stealing bases. It wasn't "smallball." It was an attitude. And if OzzieBall - circa 2005 - is to return for the White Sox, the manager can't be the only vocal leader on the field and in the clubhouse. Will be posted this afternoon.

News

TRACKING SUICIDES: National Violent Death Reporting System will track suicide data - The death certificate provides the center with a suicide victim’s name, time of death and information about how he died. But the new system takes information from the police reports, medical examiners and toxicologists to create a fuller picture of the circumstances behind the person’s death. Somerville Journal, Bagley, 18 inches, on wire now
With photo

GOVERNOR IDENTIFIED: After months of speculation, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was named as Public Official A in the corruption case against former adviser Tony Rezko, who is accused of soliciting kickbacks in exchange for business from the state. Rezko’s connections to Obama have made national news lately. Rockford